Thursday, 11th March 2010



Winds expected to be borderline today. 10-15 knots S-SE expected most of the day, possibly climbing in the afternoon to closer to 20. Coming couple of days expected to be similar, nothing to write home about but may be solid enough in the afternoons.

This past Sunday Kite Republic ran the Clean Up Australia Day cleanup for St Kilda West Beach. We provided a breakfast BBQ and it was great to see a good crew down there to help out on the day.



Pictures and full wrap from last weekends Warrnambool Club Tour can be seen here.

Hope everyone had a fantastic week of the wind last week and congratulations to Kite Republic Team Riders Ewan Jaspan and Lincoln Reeves who took out major places in the Australian Freestyle Nationals through the week. Ewan won a berth in the PKRA World Cup event on the Gold Coast in December while Lincoln took out 3rd place in the juniors. Congratulations boys!!! Check out the Naish International Website for a writeup on Ewan Jaspan and Simon Wincherman, click here.




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Kites lit up the skies, music filled the air, and not only Australia’s best, but some of the world’s best kiteboarders took to St Kilda Beach for the 2010 Australian National Freestyle Championships in conjunction with the Week of the Wind.

After the completion of Kristen Boese’s KB4Girls clinic and the Tour of the Pro’s bus tour which were both run on the Monday and Tuesday prior to the Nationals beginning, the Kite Republic crew hosted a party for just about all 60 of the participants involved. Fun times had by all!

Day 1 of competition was called off as the skies darkened and lightning filled the skies. The Red Bull tent became the ultimate escape from the rain as Kite Republic put on a BBQ for the competitors.

Thankfully Day 2 started with plenty of wind and the trend continued. The big names seemed to be going through the paces. Current world number 5 Andy Yates waltzed through day 1 to be leading after the double elimination in the Men’s Open. Keahi De Aboitz was placed in second position in the Men’s Open and top of the Juniors after Day 1, while Simon Wincherman from Perth was in 3^rd after the double elimination. Kite Republic’s Ewan Jaspan was positioned strongly in 4th place in the Men’s Open and 2^nd in the Juniors after Day 1. A great standard continued throughout the Masters and Women’s events as well.

The Final Day was another action packed day on the water. In the single elimination the Kite Republic Junior Team Riders began to make a charge. Ewan Jaspan finished in second position narrowly making it past Lincoln Reeves who also rocketed up the ranks on Day 2. Declan McCarthy made it through a few solid rounds and it’s clear that he’ll be another to watch in the future.

The Men’s Open event was taken out by PKRA rider Andy Yates who couldn’t put a foot wrong as he took out Keahi De Aboitz in the final. In the battle for 3^rd Ewan Jaspan had a great heat against his Naish team mate Simon Wincherman. Keahi and Ewan both won PKRA Wildcards to the Gold Coast tour stop later this year. As well as this Chrissi Gaudieri who took out the women’s event also picked up a wildcard to the same event!

After a few days of hard competition and judged riding everyone let their hair down, forgot about all rules and had a crack in the Kite Republic Kiter-X Challenge presented by Red Bull on the Sunday. Thousands of spectators lines the footpaths as the event was run in conjunction with the St Kilda Festival and the spectators just flocked to the action.

A huge congratulations to Ewan Jaspan who took out a field including 2 x KPWT World Champion Jesse Richman and plenty of other state and national champions from around the world. Keahi De Aboitz came in second in this event.

A big congratulations to George and the team at KITEmag for putting on a fantastic event!

Full Results of the 2010 Australian National Kiteboarding Championships below!

Results of the 2010 AKSA Australian National Kiteboarding
Championships held at St Kilda beach, Melbourne, Feb 11 to 13, 2010.

Men
1. Andy Yates (Caloundra)
2. Keahi De Aboitz (Noosa)
3. Ewan Jaspan (St Kilda)
(Note: Keahi and Ewan get a "wild card" into the PKRA World Tour comp
to be held in Gold Coast in December as Andy is already competing as
the world's No 5)

(PIC OF PODIUM)

Women
1. Chrissy Gaudieri (Perth)
2. Shannon Duckar (Perth)
3. Michelle England (Newcastle)
(Note: Chrissy given a wild card into the PKRA World Tour
     comp)

(PIC OF PODIUM)

Juniors
1.Keahai De Aboitz (Noosa)
2.Ewan Jaspan (St Kilda)
3.Lincoln Reeves (St Kilda)

(PIC OF PODIUM)

Masters (over 35s)
1. Scott Sollar(Terrigal, NSW)
2  Mario Steffan (Adelaide)
3. Rob Sellar

The Andy Yates Talent Award, best up and comer; Lindsay Hobbs,15 (Gold Coast)AKSA appointed judging panel: Toby Bromwich, head judge at St Kilda
comp and one of six full-time PKRA World Tour judges Sam Light, from
Hayling Island, UK, and 2009 British Kite Surfing Association Men's
Open winner, ranked 5th in PKRA World Tour circuit.
Tom Court from Isle of Wight, UK, ranked 11th and on the PKRA World
Tour circuit and until recently UK No 1 for under=18 Alexander "Sir
Rowdy" James Lewis-Hughes, experienced kiter and judge from Elliot
Heads, NSW. Jesse Richman, Maui, Hawaii, 2009 and 2008 KPWT World
Champion.

Exciting times for all as KR KITE CLUB's Fiji Winter Escape dates are now confirmed.

Please see poster below for dates & click here for more information!

LIMITED SPOTS, BOOK NOW!!

WHEN:

Dates:      - Sunday, Feb 28th
               - Sunday, Mar 28th
               - Sunday, Apr 11th
               - Monday, April 26th (Anzac Day Holiday)

Time:       We'll be meeting at 9:30am at the Kite Republic School on St Kilda West Beach with the weather forecast all sorted and ready to go by 10am.

WHAT IS A RIDE DAY???

Depending on the forecast we'll be setting out to the place most likely to produce great winds for the day, if there is no wind we will have backups and possibly a little surfing or SUPping might be in order, as well as this we'll organize a BBQ lunch for everyone.

This is a social trip aimed at all levels of kiter, the only requirement is that you have your own gear; kite, board, harness, leash (or hire it for the day) and that you have had 3 lessons (ie. at a boardstarting level).

LIMITED SPACES:

As we have lots of interest in these days it will be limited to the first 18 people as we have allocated 3 instructors for the day.

AM I GOOD ENOUGH & WHO ARE WE STUCK WITH???

Firstly, provided you have had 3 lessons then YES, you are good enough! For the beginners, Kite Republic Instructors will be there for the day ready to help out, for the intermediate and advanced riders not only will there be instructors but some of Victoria’s highest level riders coming along to offer advice and push you to your limits!

TRANSPORT???

We will be carpooling, this is a great way to socialize and meet other kiters on the way. We suggest you give your driver $20 to cover their costs. Carpooling will be sorted on the day. If we don't need your car there's free parking across the road from the beach and in front of Kite Republic HQ.

COST???

Cost of the day will be $75 to cover instructors and BBQ. Must be a KR Club member. How do I join?

HOW DO I BOOK???

If you are interested please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and confirm on facebook for this event.

To confirm your position please make payment in person or call 0418 58583 233 to pay over the phone.

Again there are ONLY 18 positions... first in best dressed!

Can't wait to get everyone out there, awesome days ahead!